Every term of office must come to an end, and so Tony winner James Gammon ("Nash Bridges," Buried Child) completes his run as the President of the United States in Tom Grimes' New World, closing July 8 at Los Angeles' MET Theatre. Veteran TV director James Charleston ("Nash Bridges," "NYPD Blue," "Early Edition") directs the world premiere, which began performances June 1.

A political thriller, New World finds the President, Thomas Carver, relaxing at his hunting retreat after winning a brief war in the Gulf. Unexpectedly, the area flares up again, demanding another war. Advising the President are Wardlow, his crafty chief of staff, General Stranger, who won the last war, Charles, his idealistic new speechwriter, and his estranged wife, who still grieves over the loss of their son. None of their influence may affect his ultimate decision; instead, he is haunted by a moment from his past, which only violence seems to silence.

Grimes purposely crafted President Carver from several recent presidents, not choosing a single one for examination. Grimes won a Drama-Logue for his play Spec. Other works include the novels "A Stone of the Heart," "Season's End" and "City of God."

Gammon most recently took to the stage as the title character in the world premiere of Sam Shepard's The Late Henry Moss. He won a Tony Award the Gary Sinise-directed revival of Buried Child. Gammon is featured as Nick on "Nash Bridges" and played Horsethief Shorty in "The Milagro Beanfield War" and Cleveland Indians manager Lou Brown in the "Major League" movies.

Also in the cast are Scott Paetty, Nadya Starr, Kevin Symons and MET Theatre vet Stephen Whittaker. Tickets are $20. The MET Theatre is located at 1089 North Oxford Avenue in Hollywood. For reservations, call (323) 957-1152. The MET Theatre is on the web at http://www.theMETtheatre.com.

— By Christine Ehren